Why Words Matter | Property Management
In 2015 we started our property management company, TRE Homes. As many entrepreneurs will agree with me, when starting a business you don't really know what you're doing. However, you start in spite of that and just figure it out as you go. We've been doing that every day since we started this company and that spirit is ingrained in our company culture and what we stand for. We have learned the importance of the language that we use so that our mouths can properly match our hearts. You need to know why you're working and what you're working towards.
Our company name, TRE, is an acronym for Teifke Real Estate. It is also an acronym for our core values; Team, Reputation, and Enthusiasm. We use these to evaluate and reward our actions on a daily basis. One of the small ways we add value is by choosing our words intentionally. Vocabulary matters and builds a sense of respect with our clients. Choosing the right words for our core values is a way to show our clients that we care. Treating every one of our residents in a respectful manner will build a sense of pride. This will, in turn, give us a better rate of resident retention, therefore saving our investor clients money on lease fees, vacancies, and make-ready costs.
We have chosen to refer to the people living in our properties as "residents". Historically, the word "tenant" has a bad rap. When people think of “tenants” they think of someone with a lower social status that is destructive. This is not what we have seen and it's not the message we want to send out into the universe. The word "resident" refers to the human being that resides in the home. This has a better, more respectful connotation behind it.
From an investors standpoint it is natural to refer to a rental as a property or unit. Unfortunately, when talking to a resident this lacks any emotional connection and gives the feeling of something short-term (not what we want). At TRE Homes, we refer to every rental as a "home". We invite all our residents to make an investors property their home. Our actions reflect this as well. We respect the privacy of our residents by giving them at least 24 hours notice if we need to stop by. It's also important to allow pets and special paint projects; within certain boundaries of course! We let our residents paint, plant flowers in the spring time, and decorate their front door during the holidays. This home may be where they bring their baby home from the hospital, or the party location for a 50th wedding anniversary. This is not just a rental property, this is a home!
Lastly, we don’t refer to our clients as property owners, they are "investors"! If you own a rental property you are an investor. An owner is anyone that owns a home, but taking on the title of "investor" creates a different mentality. There is a necessary disconnect to step away from the day-to-day details that go into the management of a property; that’s why investors hire us! Investors can rest peacefully at night knowing that their investment is being managed effectively. We want the investor clients we have to continue to grow and build on their real estate portfolio. We want to see investors to become more and more successful each year. So investors, spend some of your free time researching new deals to acquire. We can help you with that too!
For any questions or advice, please reach out!
(512)571-3790
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